Impact of TNF-α on CTLA-4 expressing in the Treg cells of elderly COPD patients

Abstract

Objective To study the expression of inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)、the cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4)on regulatory T cells (Treg) in the elderly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Andto explore the influence of TNF-α to CTLA 4 expression on Treg with COPD. Methods Collecting the peripheral blood which comes from the differentage groups inpatients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute exacerbation and healthy controls.Use the density gradient centrifugation method to separate the peripheral blood mononuelear cell (PBMC), then use the flow cytometry to detect the CTLA 4 expression in peripheral blood, the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α by quantitative real time polymerasechain reaction, proteins expression of cytokines TNF-α in the serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). To collect the adult peripheral blood in patients with COPD, and use theimmune method of magnetic bead to separate the Treg cells, to join the restructuring of TNF alphaco-culture with Treg.The mRNA expression levels of CTLA-4 by quantitative real time polymerasechain reaction, the proteins expression of CTLA 4 by western blot. Results The expression of CTLA-4 on Treg in adult COPD group were [0.96(0.54-1.38)], compared with adult control group [0.01(0.00-0.03)] was up regulated (P 0.05). Western Blot detection shown that the expression of proteins levels of CTLA-4 in treated with TNF-α group (120 min) were (0.21±0.02) which compared to untreated group (0.50±0.06) and control group (0.49±0.10) was downregulated (P 0.05). Conclusions In patients with AECOPD, the concentration of TNF-α and the expression of CTLA-4 on Treg were increased in the serum; The number of CTLA-4 on Treg were negatively correlated with the concentration of TNF-α; Restructuring of TNF-α will influence the expression of CTLA-4 on Treg, make its expression decreased what in the patients with COPD is obvious; Can influence each other between inflammation and cellular immune mechanism, and greatly affect the development of COPD. Key words: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Regulatory T cells; Tumor necrosis factor alpha; T lymphocyte associated antigen 4